NSW rolls out $26m breast screen upgrade

NSW rolls out $26m breast screen upgrade

The New South Wales Government says it is starting a rollout of new technology to help regional and rural women get better access to breast screening services.

The $26 million upgrade of the BreastScreen program will see digital mammography technology set up in Bankstown, Liverpool, Newcastle, Dubbo, Tweed Heads, Lismore, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour over the next six months.

Five mobile vans will also be available throughout the state.

The Opposition’s spokeswoman for Women, Pru Goward, has welcomed the upgrade but says it has come too late for many breast cancer victims.

“We are behind the other states,” she said.

“One of the reasons for that is we have not invested in breast screening, particularly mobile screening for rural and country areas.

“Let’s hope that this is a beginning but not the end of the Government’s investment in breast screening.”

Ms Goward says the announcement of five mobile breast screening vans falls short of what is needed.

“We need even greater investment in mobile vans and then we need better investment in how you treat cancer in country areas, so that women don’t have to have mastectomies when their sisters in the city can get access to chemotherapy and radiotherapy,” she said.